Fountain pen filling unit



Aug 27, 1946. w.-J. HEAGNEY FOUNTAIN PEN FILLING UNIT Filed July 26. 1944 w QN: NNI

Patented Aug. 27, 1946 FOUNTAIN PEN FILLING UNIT Walter J. Heagney, Janesville, Wis., assignor to The Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., a corporation of `Wisconsin Application July 26, 1944, Serial No. 546,589

(Cl. 1Z0-47) 15 Claims.

The invention relates generally to fountain pen filling devices and more particularly to the multiple stroke type of lling device operating in the manner disclosed in the Dahlberg Patent No. 1,904,358.

The general object of the invention is to Drovide a novel filling device of the foregoing character, in the form of a self-contained unit which may be readily removed from and replaced in the barrel of the pen, and having a construction which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a novel filling unit of the type utilizing an extensible diaphragm," in which the diaphragm is assembled as part of the unit prior to securing the unit tothe barrel of the pen, to avoid clamping or wedging the diaphragm against the barrel so that the diaphragm will not be damaged when the unit is removed from the barrel.

A further object is to provide a novel filling unit of the type utilizing an extensible diaphragm, a

spring for -contracting the diaphragm, and a plunger for extending the diaphragm, in which the plunger is so mounted inthe structure that the spring and diaphragm cannot be twisted as a result of inadvertent rotation of the plunger.

Still another object is t provide a novel filling device comprising relatively few parts capable of easy assembly, with the parts when assembled.

constituting a self -contained unit.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a fountain pen provided with a filling unit embodying the features of the invention and showing the filling unit in its idle position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showingthe filling unit with its parts extended during operation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fountain pen provided with a modified form of filling unit and showing the position of the parts thereof when idle.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 and showing the filling unit of Fig. 3 with its parts extended.

A filling unit embodying the features of the invention is adapted for use with a fountain pen having a barrel constituting a reservoir to hold ink. The fountain pen shownin the drawing for illustrative purposes comprises a barrel l0 having an internal bore ll serving asthe above-mentioned reservoir. Secured to the front end of the.

barrel is any desired feed structure, here indicated generally at l2, to control the feeding of the ink from the reservoir ll to a penpoint I3 provided with a Writing nib i4, the particular feed structure herein shown being of the type disclosed in the Baker Patent No. 2,223,541. The front end of the pen is provided with a cap (not shown) to protect the nib I4 when not in use.

As mentioned above, a filling unit embodying the features of the invention is of the multiple stroke type operating in the manner disclosed in the Dahlberg Patent 1,904,358. Suchaiilling unit is provided with a `diaphragm adapted to be extended or expanded to reduce the effective volume of the reservoir of y theA pen and thereby create a pressure differential forcing an` out of the barrel through the feed structure and, when the diaphragm is permitted to contract, drawing ink into the reservoir to supplant the air previously forced out.y On each stroke of the lling unit, only a fraction of the total ink content of the reservoir is drawn in, but, by a plurality of such strokes, sufcient ink may be drawn into the barrel or reservoir to bring the ink to the desired level.

The filling unit herein shown is a self-contained structure, and the diaphragm is assembled to the other parts of the unit independently of the securing of the unit in the barrel of thepen. Thus, the structureavoids clampingor wedging the diaphragm against the barrel so that the diaphragm will not be damaged when the unit is removed from the barrel. To this end, the filling unit com` prises a body member 29 externally threaded as at 2l so that it may be screwed into the rear end of the barrel foi1 securing the unit in place. On

' the forward end of the body member 2|)l isY a Vreduced portion 22. The diaphragm', indicated at 23, in the present instance is of generally tubular form having its rear end open and its front end closed. The rear open end of the diaphragm 23 is secured to the body member by being sleeved over the reduced portion 22 and is preferably cemented thereto to x it in place.

The diaphragm is adapted, when in use, to be alternately extendedv and contracted. For this purpose, ay plunger 24 provided, which is adapted' to be manually voperated to extend the diaphragm,

while a spring 25 is provided for contracting the diaphragm. Asshown herein, the spring 251is of the coiled type having afew turns at one end, indicated at 26, mounted on threads cut in the forward end of therreduced portion 22 of the body- I member. lThe turns 255 lie within the portion of the diaphragm which issleeved over the reduced portion 22 and thus areV rigidly xed tothe body` f member.

ward end turn of smaller diameter than the inverted portion so as to rigidly hold the ball 3| in place, and likewise securing the end of the spring to the diaphragm. The spring-is of a type tending to contract to the position ,shown-in Figw 1 and thus draw the closed end of the diaphragm When the.

rearwardly as shown in said gure. diaphragm is in such position, it occupies a mini- "formed on the front end of the plunger.

sioned to conform to the shape of. the rear end of the barrel.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thelling unit Vis of substantially the same construction except for the manner of securing the spring, plunger, and front or closed end of the diaphragm together. As shown in these two gures, the diaphragm isprovided with a generally spherical, forwardly extending portion adapted to receive a ball-shaped head il The portion 40 of the diaphragm extends over the ball-shaped end 4i suiiiciently to adhere thereto and remain secured thereto during movement of the plunger. The spring, in the present instance, gis secured directly to the plunger and, to this end,

has its forward end turn bent, as at 42, for inmum of space within lthe reservoir I l of the'pen."

When the diaphragm is expanded, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring is substantially coextensive with the diaphragm. v

1 'Toexpand the diaphragm,V theA plunger 24 is adapted to bear, at its forward end, against the inverted portion 3e of the diaphragm sothat, when the plunger is manually moved-forward, the diaphragm is expanded or extended yto the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the spring likewise being expanded. To provide a suitable bearing for the end of the plunger 24. it ispreferably provided with a head 33,'th`e end f ace of which bears against the inverted 'portion 38, and the .periphery of the head 33 is of conical shape tot fwithin the tapered turns 32 of -the spring. The plunger 24 is reciprocably supported bythe body member 2l! and is of suiiicient-length so that, when moved inwardly to the-.position shown in Fig. 2, its rear end is adjacent the rear end of the body member 20. The plunger 24 has v a-loose t, indicated at 34, in the body member `so that -the interior .of the diaphragm is freely vented tothe outside atmosphere, thereby avoiding any building fup of pressure within thedia-v phragm .that would tend vto prevent proper contraction'thereof. i Y

zUsers of fountain pens are frequently ignorant Y fof .the `proper mode of operating the parts theret0 rotate the, plunger instead ofmerelypressing it inwardto operate the lling device. Such ro- Yser'tion into a transverse aperture in the plunger.

The spring is, therefore, rigidly secured at its front end to the plunger and, since the latter is securedto the diaphragm, the threepartsV are fixed to each other.

From lthe foregoing descrip `on, it will be ap.- parent that I have provided a novel filling device of simple and inexpensive construction and including a1 diaphragm assembled as part of the unitand thereby avoiding the necessity of clamping or wedging vthe diaphragm against thebarrel so that .the diaphragm will not be damaged when the unit is removed from the barrel, AThe unit here shown is of the type utilizing an extensible diaphragm, a spring for contracting the diaphragm anda plunger for manually extending the diaphragm, and in theform shown in Fgs. l and 2 of the drawing, the spring anddiaphragm cannot be twisted and thereby damaged, should the user fail to employ the proper mode of'l operationV of the device andfattempt to rotate the plunger.

I claim:

. member, a plunger slidably mounted in said body tation of @the plunger, if communicatedto the spring and plunger, would tend to twist them and perhaps cause damage thereto, particularlyif such twisting lwere excessive. It will bev noted' that, in the-construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, rotation of the plunger cannot cause such-twisting of the spring and diaphragm since the vhead 3 3 ofthe plunger merely bears against the inverted portion 30 of the diaphragmv and is noty otherwise connected thereto. i

In order that the filling unit may effectively seal theY rear end of the barrel when 'secured therein, Vinde'peridently of the' diaphragm, the

body' member 2B isprovided with a'ange por-" i )ofthe plunger 2li when the latteris'idle topprevent accidentaly actuation of the Yilling device'.

' I'he flange' portion V35 and the cap 31 aredimeri-lfv member, -an extensible tubulardiaphragmhaving a closed Vend and an' open end sealed4 to said body member and enclosing one end of said plunger,

" said plunger bearing against the closed end of said vdiaphragm for extending'fsaid diaphragm by movement of the plunger, and a spring within and substantially coextensive withY said diaphragm when the diaphragm is extended and extending about saidV plunger; said spring -being anchored at oneendto said body member and tending t0 contract'said diaphragm j and move said plunger.

2 In a fountain pen Vhaving a barrel, a selfcontained lling unit comprising a body member adapted'to beremoyably secured in one end of i the securing of the body member in the barrel, a plunger reciprocably supported by said body member for extending said diaphragm' and having one vend extending into said diaphragm, and

a coiled spring surrounding said plunger and tending to move saidplungerin one direction and to contract said diaphragm, said plunger being :rotatable relative to said diaphragm and said spring to preventvtwisting thereof by rotation the plunger. 3. In a fountain pen having abarreL a selfcontained filling unit comprising a body member having athreaded portion intermediate its'ends I for.removably' securingn the unit in said/barrel, aflangeportionadjacent saidthreaded portionv and connected at adapted to abut against the end of the barrel, and a threaded end portion adjacent said flange portion to receive a cap, a plunger extending through said body member and reciprocably supported thereby, anextensible tubular diaphragm secured to the other end of said body member and enclosing the end of and adapted to be extended by said plunger, and a coiled spring Within said diaphragm surrounding said plunger and tending to contract said diaphragm.

4. in a fountain pen having a barrel, a selfcontained nlling unit comprising a, body member having a threaded portion intermediate its ends for removably securing the unit in said barrel, one end of said body member being threaded to removably receive a cap extending beyond the barrel, a plunger extending through said body member and reciprocably supported thereby, an extensible tubular diaphragm secured to the other end of said body member and enclosing the end of said plunger and-adapted to be extended by movement of said plunger, and a coiled spring located within said diaphragm and having one end Wound about said body member Within said diaphragm, said spring tending to contract said diaphragm.

5. In a fountain pen.7 a filling unit comprising a body member adapted to be secured in the pen and having its inner end threaded, a plunger ex tending through and reciprocably supported by said body member, a coiled spring surrounding one end of said plunger and wound on the threaded inner end of said body member, and-an extensible diaphragm enclosing said spring and extending over the turns of the spring on the inner end of said body member for securing the diaphragm to the body member, said diaphragm being adapted to be extended by saidplunger and to be contracted by said spring.

6. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a filling unit comprising a body member having an intermediate threaded portion for securing the unit in the barrel, and a reduced portion threaded on its end, a plunger extending through said body member. a coiled spring having the turns at one end wound. on the threaded end of said reduced portion. and an extensible diaphragm extending over said reduced portion and the turnsof the spring Wound thereon, said diaphragm being adapted to be extended by said plunger and to be contracted by said spring. Y

'i'. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a filling unit comprising a body member having an intermediate threaded portion for securing the unit in the barrel` and a reduced portion, a plungerextending through said body member, a coiled spring having vthe turns at one end 'Wound on said reduced portion, and an extensible tubular phragm and said plunger being manuallyr actuatable to extend said diaphragm.

9. A filling unit for a fountain pen comprising a body member adapted. to be secured to the pen, a diaphragm having one end closed and the other end open, the latter being sleeved over said body member, a plunger extending through saidbody member and bearing against said closed end for extending said diaphragm, and a spring located Within said diaphragm and `surrounding said plunger and tending t0 contract said diaphragm, said plunger having a loose fit in said body memto vent the interior, of said diaphragm tothe outside atmosphere to prevent the diaphragm from being distended by air pressure.

10. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a filling unit comprising a body member adapted to be 'secured' in the barrel, a diaphragm having one end closed and the other end open, the latter being secured to said body member, a coiled spring carried b-y said body member and tending to contract said diaphragm, and a manuallyo-perable plunger extending through said.k body member and into said diaphragm for extending the latter, said plunger being rotatable relative to said diaphragm and said spring to prevent inadvertent twisting thereof by rotating the plunger.

11. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a selfcontained lling unit comprising a body meme ber having a threaded portion for securing the unit in the barrel and a reduced portion extendM ing into the barrel, an extensible generally tubular diaphragm closed at one end and open at the other end with its, open end lsleeved over said reduced portion, the latter being dimensioned to hold said diaphragm clear oi said barrel,` a coiled diaphragm having aclosed end and an open end,

the latter being sleeved over said turns of the spring and said reduced portion, said reduced portion being dimensioned to provide clearance between said diaphragm and the barrel, said diaphragm being adapted to be extended by said plunger and to be contracted by said spring.

8. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a nlling unit comprising a body member adapted to be v secured in the barrel, a plunger extending through said body member, an extensible tubular diaphragm having a closed end and an open end, the latter being secured to said body member, and a coiled spring located Within said'diaphragm l one end to said body member and at its other end to the closed end of the diaphragm, said spring tending to contract said diaspring carried by said body member and tending to contract said diaphragm, anda manually operable plunger reciprocably carried by said body member for extending said diaphragm and said spring, said plunger being rotatable relative to said diaphragm and said spring to prevent tvvistn ing thereof by rotation of Ithe plunger.

l2. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a nlling unit comprising a body member adapted to be secured in said barrel, an extensible tubular di aphragm having one end closed and inverted and the other end open, the latter being secured to said body member, a ball mounted in the inverted portion, a coiled spring Within said diaphragm having one end secured to said body member and its other end reduced in diameter and extending over the inverted portion to retain the ball therein, and a plunger reciprocabiy supported by said body member and bearing at one end against said inverted portion. I

13. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a lling unit comprising a body member adapted to be l secured in said barrel, an extensible tubular diaphragm having one end open and secured to 'said body member and the other end closed and inverted into itself, a ball located within the inverted portion, a coiled spring Iwithin said diaphragm having one end secured to said body member, the turnsl at the other end of the spring tapering to nt over and constrict the inverted portion and thereby secure the spring thereto and the ball Within said inverted portion, and a plunger reciprocably supported by said body member and bearing at one end against said in verted portion.

14. In'a fountain pen having a barrel, a lling unit comprising a body member adapted to ,be secured in 'said barrel, an extensible tubular diaphragm having one end open and secured to said body member and the other end closed withv a restricted neck formed adjacent the closed end, a plunger reciprocably supported by said body member and having a rounded end fitting in the closed end of the diaphragm and retained therein by said restricted neck, and a coiled spring sur- Arounding' said plunger and having one end secured to said body member and the other end secured to said plunger adjacent said rounded end.

15. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a lling unit comprising a body member adapted to be secured in said barrel, an extensible tubular di` J. HEAGNEY. 

